NFL draft: Will Seahawks still snag a quarterback?

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Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is expected to be the top pick in the draft by the St. Louis Rams. (Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

NFL draft expert Rob Rang has graciously agreed to discuss a different topic each week on our Seahawks Blog from now until the April 22-24 draft. Rang is a senior analyst for NFLdraftscout.com, an excellent source for insight on all draft topics. Here’s this week’s discussion:

They’re the two Qs. Quarterbacks. And never-ending questions about quarterbacks.

Is Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford really the best prospect in the draft? Did Seattle make a smart move in trading for Charlie Whitehurst instead of taking a shot at one of this year’s college stars? Is Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen the real deal or a likely bust? Is there a Tom Brady lurking in the later rounds for somebody to snag?

So we’re talking quarterbacks this week with draft analyst Rob Rang, who was in Oklahoma on Monday along with dozens of NFL scouts to see the Pro Day workout of Bradford, the guy now projected to be the first choice by the St. Louis Rams in three weeks.

Everyone assumes the Seahawks are set at quarterback for the time being now that they acquired Whitehurst. Or are they? Pete Carroll and John Schneider said they haven’t ruled out taking a future franchise QB and both were at Bradford’s workout and are bringing Tim Tebow in for a personal visit.

So let’s find out what Rang thinks of all this QB talk. This guy is as dialed in as anyone on the draft and you can follow his own blog here. But here are his answers to our questions:

Are you convinced Bradford is the right choice for the Rams at No. 1? How sold are you on him as a franchise QB?

Ndamukong Suh

“I believe Ndamukong Suh is the best player and surest NFL prospect of the 2010 draft. However, the mantra that NFL teams typically take the ‘best available athlete’ is an unrealistic cliche that will be proven as such when the Rams take Bradford with the first pick.

“Bradford has the size, arm strength, accuracy and intangibles each team is looking for in a potential franchise pick, (but) his acclimation to a pro-style offense and ability to remain healthy are enough to rank him below Suh as the top talent available this year.

“However, the NFL has become increasingly quarterback-driven over the past 20 years. To compete consistently, teams need great quarterback play, which is why they’re so willing to risk high picks on the position.”

Mike Holmgren is among many who have said they’re not in love with Clausen. Where do you fall on the Notre Dame quarterback?

Jimmy Clausen

“Clausen is more pro-ready than Bradford due to the tutelage he gained under Charlie Weis and the pro-style offense he ran at Notre Dame. He gets good grades across the board in terms of size, arm strength, accuracy and mobility.

“He does not, however, earn excellent grades in any area. In my opinion, the combination of good — but not elite — talent and the quality coaching he’s already received means he is essentially a finished product with little room for further improvement.

“The value of the quarterback position is so high that I believe Clausen will ultimately be drafted within the top 10, perhaps even the top five. I do not believe that his NFL career will ultimately prove worthy of that high of a selection, however.”

The Seahawks’ brass insist they could still pick a QB high in the draft even after trading for Whitehurst. Do you believe them?

Matt Hasselbeck

“Considering the money already wrapped up with Hasselbeck and Whitehurst, I do not believe the Seahawks will invest a first- or second-round pick in a quarterback. There have been rumblings that Seattle will consider trading Hasselbeck, however.

“If they did trade him, then, of course, quarterback would then become an area of concern again and they might invest one of the first three picks in a passer.”

Any sleepers in the later rounds who would make sense for the Seahawks to develop behind Hasselbeck, Whitehurst and Mike Teel?

“As he’s already demonstrated with the trade of Seneca Wallace and acquisition of Whitehurst, Pete Carroll is looking for passers with a prototypical combination of size and arm strength.

“Some developmental passers in this draft that would fit the bill are Fordham’s John Skelton, Troy’s Levi Brown, Mississippi’s Jevan Snead and Tennessee’s Jonathan Crompton. Each should be available in the 4th to 5th round or later.”

And finally, the Seahawks decision to trade for Whitehurst was based largely on the fact they’re not sold on the group of QBs they could have landed in this year’s second- to third-round area. What is your assessment of Whitehurst vs. the Tebows, McCoys, etc. available this year?

Charlie Whitehurst

“Whitehurst possesses the size, arm strength and accuracy that every NFL team is looking for. When he came out of Clemson four years ago, we at NFLDraftScout.com projected him as a third-round prospect (correctly, as it turned out) based on his upside, as well as his troubling tendency to focus on his primary receiver and force the ball into coverage.

“My concern with Seattle’s trade for Whitehurst is that I don’t know how he could have improved in this area without seeing live, regular-season action. There is, however, no question that Whitehurst has the physical talent to warrant the picks Seattle gave up for him, especially considering how quickly the talent drops off at quarterback in the 2010 draft after Bradford.”

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This is the seventh in our series of draft chats with Rang. If you missed the earlier posts, you can find them here: